Letters Home from a Yankee Doughboy 1916-1919

During the time of its deployment overseas from October, 1917 until the Armistice in November, 1918 the 26th Infantry Division suffered a total of 13,664 casualties including 1,587 KIA (killed in action) and 12,077 WIA (wounded in action). Counted separately were 2,113 men hospitalized for being gassed (burned and/or poisoned) by chemical munitions.

The following are notes made in Sam’s pocket diary regarding some of the casualties suffered by the Headquarters Company, 103rd Infantry Regiment during its time in the lines as part of the 52nd Infantry Brigade. The casualties noted here were likely directly due to enemy fire and not the effects of gas which was an environmental condition faced by all.

With one exception no dates of occurrence are noted, but this is a poignant reminder of war’s random cost (as Sam would say, “part of the Game”) and the price paid by some of those who directly served in Hdq. Co. along with Sam.

On this 90th Anniversary of the Armistice that ended the Great War, let us remember the supreme sacrifice made by so many members of the Allied armed forces for the sake of freedom. May their memory never perish.

REL, Editor
Armistice Day, 2008

On September 15, 2009 at 8:13 pm Mark R. Stefan said:

Dennis F. Millett, Co K 2nd Inf. Maine NG, wounded July 16, 1918. Looking for any info on his service with the 103rd Infantry, 26th Division. I have his WW1 Victory Medal with 5 bars. Born 11/1/1892 at New Vinyard, ME. Enlisted in Farmington. Son of George W. Millett. Looks like he was due a Purple Heart too. Thanks for any info or help in researching him further. Regards, Mark Stefan

Thanks so much for visiting Soldier’s Mail and for your recent question!

I hope you find the site fascinating as it is probably the only repository of information on the web regarding the 26th “Yankee” Division in general and the 103rd Infantry in particular during the Great War.

Please keep reading as you will see that there is much to learn about Dennis Millett in terms of what he no doubt experienced as he served along with Sam Avery in the 103rd.

From what you tell me, Dennis would have been one of the “originals” along with Sam. If your Victory Medal has 5 clasps, they should match what is pictured on Soldier’s Mail (see the Page “Citations and Honors”) which would credit Dennis with all the major campaigns and sectors the 26th saw combat in.

If Dennis was wounded on July 16, 1918 it would have been during the Champagne-Marne Defensive when the 103rd was being shelled mercilessly. Dennis would have been evacuated from the area for triage and treatment, and depending on the severity of his wounds probably did not participate in the Aisne-Marne Offensive (2nd Battle of the Marne).

I have a loaned copy of the official 103rd Regimental History (see the title by Col. Frank Hume on the “Bibliography” Page) which lists rosters of all 103rd Regiment personnel by Company while awaiting discharge at Camp Devens in April, 1919. I cannot find a Dennis F. Millett listed anywhere.

My guess is that he may have been seriously wounded enough to be detached from the Division and then reassigned elsewhere out of a replacement depot once he had recovered. This is a likely possibility as it was a common practice which negatively affected the morale of the men because often they were denied the chance to return to action with their comrades. Sam Avery was lucky in this respect, but many others were not.

I hope this information helps you in some measure. Keep on reading and keep us posted!

Best Regards,
Rich

On November 10, 2009 at 7:37 am worldwar1letters said:

This is the 90th Anniversary of the first Armistice Day commemorated in America when on November 11, 1919 President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the following words:

“To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations.”

Remember the Fallen and the Most Gallant Generation…

Regards,
REL

On February 8, 2010 at 6:45 pm Jan Simonelli said:

I have a photo of Co. I, 103rd Infantry A.E.F. April 1919 that came in a frame that I liked. The photo which is in pretty good shape is about 8″x36″ and I would gladly ship it to anyone who has interest in it.

On March 13, 2010 at 1:37 am Steve Roberts said:

My grandfather was John T. Clemens of Weld, Maine. He was assigned to company C of the 103rd and participated in both the Aisne-Marne and Champagne-Marne engagements as well as something called the “Defensive Sector” He was twice wounded once on July 21, 1918 and again on October 29, 1918. Our family was told he had part of his stomach blown out and laid under a bridge with a wounded German soldier for three days before luckily American troops found him. Any information would be appreciated. It says he was shipped home November 18, 1918. All of his persoanl papers and records were destroyed in a fire at his home so we lost all his pictures etc. I distinctly remember a picture of him with General Pershing. We were always told that he was wounded in the Belleau woods but he seldom spoke of the war although all of his sons joined the militray during WWII, Korea, and Viet Nam. He died in 1968.

I am the archivist for the Olmsted Historical Society in N. Olmsted, OH. Recently, I was looking over some World War I military items which were donated to the society some years ago. I found the dog tag of Knud Knudson, a draftee from Rocky River, Ohio who was born in Denmark. He first served in the 158 Dep. Brig. then the 322 Inf. before being transferred to Co. G, 103 Inf. on July 26, 1918. He remained with the 103 Inf. until receiving an Hon. Disch. on April 21, 1919. His dog tag will be displayed in the society’s museum.

On May 10, 2010 at 9:06 am Robert Pershing Bronson said:

My grandfather, George Bronson served in M company of the 103rd Infantry. He was wounded during the St. Mihiel Offensive. I was told that he was hit in the head and right wrist with shrapnel when a tree he was standing by was struck. He was discharged at Camp Devens and died in 1933 when my father was just 13. You can tell by my middle name that my father must have been quite impressed by the respect my grandfather had for General Pershing. My father, William F. Bronson also served for 20 years in the Army during WWII and the Korean War. I am creating a family tree for my granddaughter which is how I found my grandfather’s WWI info. I would greatly appreciate any information about his time there. I have no pictures or any info about what citations he might have had.

Thank you,
Robert Pershing Bronson

On August 20, 2011 at 12:31 pm Kathleen Weatherly said:

You have the names listed here as McLaughlin twice Hospital #36 and Hospital #18. Both my grandfather John J. McLaughlin of Hanson, MA and his brother Robert McLaughlin of Hanson, MA or Newton, MA were in World War I in France.

My grandfather told me he was wounded by some type of bayonet. I am not sure if this would be him or not, and my grandfather had a tendency to tease us when we were children and loved to tell stories.

Do you have any leads on this for me further than what you have here? Thank you. Kathleen Weatherly – Orlando, FL

In response to
On May 10, 2010 at 9:06 am Robert Pershing Bronson said:
My grandfather, George Bronson served in M company of the 103rd Infantry.
————————————–
Private George Bronson is listed in the roster of Company M ( and there is a photo of the company ) at http://103rd.newspipers.com/images/page66.jpg

On October 3, 2011 at 12:32 am Maquet said:

Is-it possible to have the list of the killed and wounded of the 103rd Infantry Regiment ? I search the private LACLAIR

On March 9, 2012 at 4:51 pm Jim R. said:

I have a third cousin (Gustav Roerich) who is buried in the American cemetary at St. Mihiel, France. He was KIA on 16 June, 1918. He belonged to the 103rd Infantry, 26th Division). Here’s the odd part. Gustav grew up in Nebraska (farm boy). He enlisted from there. Given the 26th was made up of guys from New England, I’m confused how he got assigned with them. If anyone reading this has an explanation, thank you.

On March 24, 2012 at 1:28 am kurt rossi said:

Great site. I am also looking for information regarding my grandfather, Giovanni (John) Lucio Rossi. He however would have been a replacement as he entered France in August of 1918 with the 40th Division from California. The 40th was redesignated the 6th depot division upon arrival in France and supplied the front line divisions with replacements. The only information I have is that he served as a runner in a Headquarters Company somewhere between Verdun and Metz during the St. Mihiel Offensive and on until the Armistice. The 26th is one of three divisions that received replacements from the 40th and were involved in the St. Mihiel and Muese-Argonne Offensives. After looking at battle maps, the 26th seems to fit his description as to its position during the St. Mihiel Offensive. Any info as to whether he was in this division would be greatly appreciated. Best regards,

Kurt Rossi

On June 14, 2012 at 1:40 am kurt rossi said:

An update from my previous message. I finally received information from the NPRC in the form of a final pay voucher and found out that my Grandfather was transferred to the 111th infantry regiment, 56th brigade, 28th infantry division upon arrival in France. Most likely to the Headquarters company. This was the only information my father could remember my grandfather passing onto him. So he never was in the 26th ID. Any idea regarding collar insignia if runners would have used the standard crossed rifles or if they would have used an “HQ” collar disk? Saw one on ebay but it was a reproduction.

Kurt Rossi

On August 28, 2012 at 3:47 pm Dan Preece said:

My grandfather served in the 26th in WW1. His name was Ambrose Karroll Richards. I still have his helmet. Can anyone help me find any documents that might tell of his actions.

Hi,
Am trying to verify that my grand-uncle Alvah Deward White served per his military records. He was assigned to Company L, 103rd Inf. from early 1918 to discharge in October 1919. It is listed that his org. received the Croix de Guerre. I don’t see his name listed in the 103rd listing however. He joined in Houlton, Maine – probably as a member of the Maine Army Guard. Any info/verification/pointers in the right direction are appreciated.

On January 23, 2013 at 9:39 pm Steve Roberts said:

In order to find my Grandfather’s registration records I went to the Maine State Archives in Augusta where all of the National Guard records were sent. They are in a box in no discernible order but with patience I found his record. That would be my suggestion for you. My grandfather was in company C. By the way a new book just came out called “The Five Lieutenants” which details the careers of the “officers” of the 28th and 26th divisions. It gives pretty good detail of what life was like for the Lieutenants who were mostly college boys. The story centers on 5 boys from Harvard who became Lieutenants and went over with the first AEF boys.
It was written by James Carl Nelson and available through Amazon.

On June 3, 2013 at 3:05 pm Misty said:

This is a great site! Thanks for sharing your information! My Great Grandfather was Hubert Howard McLaughlin. I was recently given letters he had written from France during WWI. It says he was in Co. B of the 103rd 26th Div. in Requeil, France. I also have his “Yankee Division” insignia, but it confuses me as he lived on the Alabama/Tennessee border, I’m not sure how he ended up in the Yankee Division. Any information you could share with me about him or anything relating to his service would be very appreciated! Thank you!
Misty

On December 16, 2013 at 2:02 am Jacob Kendal said:

My great grandfather served in the Yankee Division during WWI and was possibly in the 103rd somewhere. He was wounded at St Mihel I do believe in September 1918 and later received the Purple Heart, Distinguished Service Cross, and the Criox de Guerre. His name was Herbert Bringham Kendal and he was originally from Lynn, Massachusetts but I do believe he joined in New Hampshire. I have heard from my family his wounds were so severe he didnt leave France until 1919. He passed in 1972 but passed on a great family name.

My grandfather, Charles E. Coates, was a bugler for the 26th div 103 out of Providence. He lived, his little brother, Howard C. Coates, whom he was made to swear to keep safe, died on July 18 during the Aisne-Marne offensive while my grandfather was dispatching a message. I found the grave of his brother (http://www.abmc.gov/search-abmc-burials-and-memorializations/detail/WWI_1107), but would love to find any info on Charles E. Coates.